How was a traditional panel plane used and does curving the sides work against it in any way?

Due to budgetary constraints I tried to find this book at our library but it’s not there. It’s a very large library with multiple branches. They had your first book on workbenches but that’s it. The next county over also has a large library system, but they have no books of yours. I did find a 2010 book by Scott Wynn on hand planes that looks very good so far. I will submit your book as a suggested purchase to our library. Not sure how long that process will take.

I mentioned this on Konrad’s blog, but want to applaud him for using a ‘sane’ numbering system which hearkens back to Millers Falls (my favorite of the bench planes). What I’m going to mention next may come from left-field, but I’m surprised no one else has mentioned it.

Successful industrial design, in handtools, is something very rare. As I was watching the video, I recalled other notable advancements to industrial design for handplanes, and again I recalled Millers Falls — the “Buck Rogers” bench plane.

Konrad’s has curved sides, but if you remove the front knob from a MF Buck Rogers ( http://oldtoolheaven.com/bench/benchimg/Buckad.jpg designed by Huxtable http://www.google.com/patents?id=zH5wAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&dq=patent%3AD159339&as_psrg=1&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false ), and replace it with an infill bun, you get a plane very close in profile view.

Similar sleek designs earlier by Oxhandler at Sargent: http://www.datamp.org/images/24525-1.jpg

Konrad has pushed this concept even further. He’s taken it to the infill arena, questioned what is required/essential, and modernized a traditional design.
I am really excited to see progress like this, and new designs to traditional woodworking tools — and any craftsman with that much attention to detail. Bravo.

-Brett

Thanks for sharing this. It’s always nice to see a well done take on a classic, and this appears to one of the better attempts I’ve seen. I’ve noticed a lot of recent interest on the local woodworking forums about infill planes, especially as a way to use spare bases that one finds.

Andrew

I too am venturing to Konrad’s shop to pick up a couple of new planes next week and I can’t wait, my planes however will be more traditional in an A1 Panel and a No 7. Shoulder Plane – I can’t wait. I hope to take the K13 for a test drive as well!!!